Process of retting unguming, and drying fiber plants and woody material.



Bi LOOMIS.

PROCESS 0r BETTING, UNGUMMING, AND same mass PLANTS AND wooov MATERIAL.

APPLICATIGN FILED ALHLZ. l9l5.

Patented July 9, 1918.

5n F l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUBDET'I LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PROCESS OF BETTING, UNGUMMING, AND DRYING FIBER PLANTS AND WOODY 'uxmnm.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Original application filed July 28, 1912, Serial No. 711,048. Divided and this application 1106. August 2,

1915. Serial No. 48,210.

To alldchow u ifmay concern:

Be it known that I, Bonnm'r Looms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Rotting, Ungumming, and Drying Fiber Pan and \Voody Material, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to a process of retting or extracting resinous and gummy material from flax, hemp and other fiber plants including woody materialnand lumber for separating the fiber from the .bark and woody material, and to drying the product.

The object of my invention is to provide for quickly retting or extractin resinous and gummy material from fiber p ants, such as flax, hemp, es arto grass, banana, cane, and woody material, including lumber, in a closed tank, by dissolving and extracting the gummy or waxy matter, oil, etc., by means of fatty acids, particularly acetic lllcld ant or wood, or from other sources, and di used in warm or hot water and circulated'in contact with the fibrous material, at. the same time floating off the extracted wax or gum with the circulating warm or hot water and solvent, and causing removal therefrom by skimming or by deposit in a separating chamber, arid also repeatedly reheating the water or solvent liquor and circulating it through the material, and then drying the material by means of warm or hot gas.

The rotting process, as usually practised,

- is slow and laborious, and often irregular in action and uncertain in results, producing an indifierent, or an actually damaged, product. By my process I seek to expedite the process, to overcome the difliculties heretofore encountered, and produce a more uniform fiber'product, of strong, soft quality and good color; also to dry the product with alneutral, non oxidizing gas directly in the treating tank.

, Any tannic acid and coloring matter which maybe present in the plant or wood.

is'first extracted by circulating water or a dilute solvent for a short-time at a low" tern peraturebetween 100]F. and 150 F.

through thebody of material and then drawing otf the Waterycxtract.

By heating wood and plant material to a moderate temperature ranging between 215 and 2-15 F., decomposition is set up, resulting in the formation of a number of acids of the fatty acid series, and by raising the/temerature there are formed other fatty acids.

he formation of fatty acids, among which acetic acid appears in lar est quantity, com mences, according to G illot, at 255 F. Other fatty acids are formed, such as forn'iic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, etc., at the above and higher temperatures.

Simultaneously with the formation of these acids, carbonic acid, carbonic oxid and methane are evolved from the wood or plant material, and these bodies in a nascent state may act upon the acids so that the latter may undergo decomposition by more vigorous heating and a large number of products of decomposition may be formed. Among 'such products are found methyl alcohol" ,wood spirits) acetone,

methyl, acetic ether, aldehyde and demethyl aeetal.

- I have discovered that those above mentioned fatty acids, gases and other products of decomposition, when diffused in hot water are an excellent solvent for the gummy, waxy or resinous materials found in wood and plants, and that, if the solvent mixture or solution is circulated in contact with the plant or woody material to be treated the contained gummy, waxy or res- .inous matter will be quickly liberated and terial treated.

The matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claims. I will now describe my process in detail by reference to the accompanying drawing, which represents a sectional eleyatidn ,of one form ofapparatus" apted for carryingout the process.

In the apparatus I provide four principal parts or devices, consisting of an extracting and dryin tank A, an expansion and depositing ciamber D, D, heating coils H located in a furnace below the bottom of tank A, and a condenser E, these parts being suitably connected by valved pipes and a circulating pump being used in the connecting pipes. The extracting tank A may be constructed of boiler iron or other suitable 1 act metal, and has at top a mouthpiecedprovided with a cover a, an end door a and at the bottom a pair of rails a".

For receivin the fiber plant material or wood I provice wheeled cars or trucks B having racks 1) containing grids, one above another, and )erforated top plates 0 made of sheet.- metal or strong wire cloth. Space, may be provided in each tank for two or more cars and racks as shown.

To the mouthpiece a is connected :1 water and vapor discharge pipe having a valve 0, which connects with an expansion and depositing chamber D, D, at the top of which connects a vapor discharge pipe 1:, having a valve e. The pipe e leads to a condensel' E.

The expansion and depositing chamber D, D rises above the tank A. This chamber is made with a tapering lower end (I, having a discharge pipe and valve (1 for drawing ofi' resinous or gummy material. A steam coil J" is placed in the lower end of the chamber D for melting resinous or gummy material in case it becomes cold and hardened. At about the middle height of chane ber D, D, is placed a separating dome or hood F, which may be attached at its edges to'the wall of the chamber, as shown, and an outlet pipe f connects with the \all of chamber D at the top of the hood and is provided with a valve f. cated below the connection of the water and vapor discharge pipe C from treating tank A and provides a vapor expansion chamber or space D above it, and a depositing or catch-all chamber or space 1) below it. This dome acts as a deflector and separator to cause the waxy or gununy matter to be deposited in the bottom of chamber D while.

theovater or treating liquor tlows up into thedome and thenceotl' to the circulating pump l. A positively acting rotary pressure pump is preferably used. though some other kind of positive pressure pump may be employed. A discharge pipe r/. connects with the pump and leads to the lower end of a seriesof heating coils ll, supported in a furnace K. Three coils are connected in a series by means of return bends I! which extend through the wall of the furnace. Near the bottom of the furnace is provided a perforated arch I. for distributing the gas flame,

and protecting the lower heating coil. A fire ciamber K is provided below the. arch ll. Gasis preferably burned in the tire chamber and is supplied by a pipe .\I having a valve m and a burner of any suitable. kind in.

In order to secure satisfactory neating and circulation of lituidthrougb the apparatus, the heater coil ll is located so that the top thereof is below the bottom of the extracting and drying tank A.

To the top of the heating coil is connected a return pipe L of the circulating system. and this pipe is also connected to the bottoln of the treating or extracting tank A. The return pipe L is provided with a check valve 1. and a check valve g is also placed in the lower end of pipe r at its con nection with the coil. These check valves prevent back flow of water or solvent liquor from the tank. To pipe L is connected a blow-off pipe S, having a valve a. and con necting with a storage and settling tank T.

A second storage tank T to which pipe L is connected by a pipe S having a valve I, is provided for receiving tannic acid or other extract or solution. A water-supply pipe N, having a valve 21.. connects with pipe (1 near the mouth-piece of tank A. or may connect at other desired part of the apparatus, as near the heating coils.

A second heating furnace K. containing a coil J, is used for heating gas to he used in drying the fiber or wood material after treatment with hot water and solvent soilition. A pipe J. having a valve j, leads from a gas holder. and connects with the coil J. and a pipe J leads from top of the coil and connects by two branches with the bottom of tank A. A return pipe having a valve (1 leads from the top of tank A. preferably at the mouthpiece 0 to the condenser l A return pipe r connects the top of the The hood is 10- -condenser with a rotary exhausler it and a pipe I" having a valve r thence leads to the pipe. J, connecting with the heating coil J, whereby the condensablc matter may be rc moved from the gus.und the noncondeusuble gas then returned to be reheated. The prod ucts of condensation may be drawn mi from the condenser by a faucet a. A gas pipe M. having a valve 0. supplies gas to a burner in furnace K for beating the coil J.

The plant material. wood or lumber. is placed in layers on the grids in the racks and held in place byany suitable means, and the tl'lltlth' are rolled into the tank, the end door 11: beim open for the purpose. The door is then cibsed and secured by bolts or other means.

Now, the system. including tank A. chamla-rl).l).and thecoilslLis tilled withwat'er or water and acetic acid solvent, admitted by pipe N and caused to rise to the level of the discharge pipe t. Gas is then ignited at, the burner m. and the circulating pump (2 is started. This causes circulation of the IIO liltl posited.

' and resinous constituen contact with the'material liquor through the heating coils and thence up through the extracting tank A in contact with the wood or fiber material.

Imay first proceed to extract and remove tannic acid and coloring matter from the material by circulating water and acetic acid at a temperature between 100 F. and 150- F. through the body of material in the tank. Circulation of water atthis low temperature is continued till all,' or most, of the t nnic acid and colorin matter'have been exracted, then the acid solution is drawn of! into a aalpk .T by opening valve t in pipe S.

e pump put in operation and the heat increased in the furnace K. As the circulating water becomes heated, approximately to 212 F., some of the fatty acids are produced and pass with the water into the heatin coils. As the temperature of the water is gradually raised, other fatty acids, gases and products of decomposition are ormed and diffused through the water. The hot circulating water and the solvent fatty acids soon commence to dissolve the cellular structure and release the volatile matter and wax or gum from the fiberor woody material. The vapor, gum and wax pass with the water or liquor into chamber D, D where the volatile vapors separate and fill the vapor space D from which they pass of through pipe 6 to the condenser E, where condensation is effected. Atthe same time the circulating water containing resinous or gummy matter which has been released from the plant material is passed down over the separating hood or dome F, where such matteris separated and caused to settle into the depositing chamber D, where it collects, while the water passes up through the sepa-- rating dome F, and thence by pipe I, the circulating pump (ah-and pipe 9 into the bottom of the heating coils. By circulating the hot water or solvent liquor up through the fiber material or wood in tank A, the wax and gummy matter are carried upward and floated off with the water through pipe G into chamber D, D, where they are de- The circulating hot water or solvent liquor in tank A agitates the body of material and prevents packing, andcontinuously carries away the extracted Wax and gummy matter so as to continuouslybring fresh liquor into to etfectively exert its solvent action on the cellular structure thereof and release the waxor gummy In theexpansion and depositing chamber D, D the volatile matterand the .wax or gum readily sciaratcs from the liquor, and at the same time the liquor is partially cooled so that the wax orgum is hardened and will readily settle inthe bottom of the chamber D. The velocity ofthe flow of liquor is much retarded (system is again filled with water and in this chamber thereby facilitating the dcpositof um. lhis action is also aided by the smal top of the separating dome F.

The temperature of the water or liquor may be gradually raised in the heating coils to approximate] 300 F. As the operation progresses and t e heat is increased, the water or liquor becomes charged with an increasing percentage of fatty acids, gases, etc., and these act with increasing energy to dissolve, release and extract the oil, wax, resinous or gummy matter from thematerial till it is substantially free from such constituents. The operation may be continued for a period varying from six to twelve hours, according to the character of fiber material treated.

The fatty acid solvent solution or acetic acid used in rotting or extracting gummy matter from Wood and fiber plants may be prepared from any suitable hard wood or other source and diffused in water for obtaining a; good solvent for the wax, gum and resinous matter in the plant or wood, The Solvent liquor thus previously prepared may be used at alower temperature, 100 to 200 F. in treating fiber plants or wood to avoid injury to the fiber, where the, greateststrength is required.

At suitable intervals, the valve d may be opened and the resin or gum discharged from the chamber D but this may be mostly discharged at the end of the opera tion. In case oil is extracted from the plant material it may be drawn oil from the-top of liquor in chamber D by opening valve 9 in pipe P overflow outlet pipe f from the;

Any volatile oily vapors distilled by the heat will be passed off at intervals through pi 1e 6 to the condenser F.

hVhen the treatment and extraction of wax, gum and oil in tank A is completed, the valve C may be closed and the blow-off valve 8 opened, permitting the liquor containing the fatty acid and any remaining oil to be blown off into the storage and settling tank T, where it is reserved for treating a succeeding charge of plant or woody material in tank A.

The fiber material or wood may now be dried by warm gas. For this purpose producer gas, or wood gas is admitted by pipe J to the coil J and the gas ignited at the burner. The warm gas is passed from the coils up into the tank and distributed around and between the trays containing la ers of material. The moisture will be ta en up by the warm gas and passed off with it through pipe p, valve g being open, to the condenser P, where the moisture will be condensed, while the non-condensable gas will'be drawn oil by the exhauster R, and returned through pipe 1' to pipe J leading to the heating coil, where it will be reheated remaining eleaned ehipS.

eulation is thus eoatimu-d till the material ls stillit'iently dried. .ttr. instead of as,

may be passed through the heating eoil if i desired. and if found better adapted for drying eertain tiher nmtetial; and after eontlensntlon of moisture may be ftilt't'tl by the exbnuster lt repeatedly, throughithe heater and tank A. The temperature of the circulated gas or airmay range from lttt) I", to-

liy eloking \lllYt j and opening ralve j" in lit-pass pipe J" eool gas may be passed from the holder direetly through tank A for t'oolin; the eharge til' tiher material be; fore opening the door o and l'emm'lngdhe ears ll. l use of the pipe J gas may be ei'rrulaled repealedlv through tlie tankatlle 'eondense'r P'anld exhaust pump lt. without; aliasing through the beater. till the material is sutlieientlv dry and cool to be removed from the tank. r

Flax. lltlltlfilttllittl giliassea and other hard tiber material may be subjerted in the usual manner to a breaking inarhine and to a sentehing machine or mill after treatment and drying in tank A. for removing; bark or (hives in ease it is deired to separate the more valuable tiher for use in making eord age or textile. t'abrir. 'lhe coarse woody material ma be separatelytreated t'or making eellulosejn a beatin; engine.

ln this proeess it is important that .the tiher material 'be plat-ed approximately straight in layers on the grids or ra'eka in tank so that long eredretted tiber may be olitained. niost'knitalile for nutking. l'opt.

eord zitrt. I -hoe lariuga. et t'..' For thew and other pnrposeal produre relied tiher tree from Sn'arls and ktuks whieh tiber eould not be made by the prut'ens and apparatus eorered by my Patent No. l.l'.!'.3.;lll-l. De-

eember :25). ltll-l. The proeeaa of this patent; is inore partiet larly t ireete'tl to the treatment of resinous wood to extraet the resinoua matter and to make t'ellu loije from the a I. a previously stated in this appliealiou the plant material is plated in lavers'in'fapproxilnateli' straight eoudit'ion an d retted forj obtaining long.' straight fiber. In t'hia prot-eas. alai. the oily matter which eollet'ts on top ofthe liquor in rhamliei' 1). T) will he skimmed oedrawu oh by pipe 11'. This operation will be partieula'rly advantageous in retting Castor oil bean plants.

This is a division of my copending application. Serial Number 711,048, filed Ju y 23. 1912.

Having described my invention. what I claim and de ire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

t l. The proeess of rettingg, and ungumming fiber ilant material, which consists in plate itu: tie material in layers on grids in a elo-etl tank. eireulating around and between .-ueh layers hot water and fatty acid Sulvents int-hiding; aretie arid. till the gummy arit l. at avtemperature above 200 F. till the ummy and resinous matter is extracted.

floating otl' sin-h matter with the water andeausing it to be separated and deposited. reheatingjthe solvent liquor and eireulatin it through the fiber materialtill rotting and ungnmmint! are etl'eeted.

V 2!. The proeesa oftprepariug and rotting tiher plant and woody material, which consiats in-erctluaetiua oily resinous and gummy matter-by eireulating in contact with the material a fatty acid Solvent; at a temperature to extraet the resinous and gummy matter, ttloating sueh matter o'ti'- with the solvent liquid and separating it from the" liquid. reheating the'li ptid and eireulatiug it in eontaet with the material till sittfieiently'ungunnned. then drawing oi? the liquid and eireulating warm or hot aeriform tluid through the material till t'lried.

-L The prot'ess olL atepaiing and retting tiher material. whieh (imam in extracting tannie arid by eireulating iu routaet with the material warm water. tlien leireulating in contact with the material a solvent liquor eoutainimfaeetie aeid till the gummy and resinous"limiter is extraetetl. separatin and mutt-n :ueh matter. reheating nn ell- -ulatmg' thelupior to eotnpletethe-uugumnun-g operation. thou drawing otl'ittho. liquor and eireulating warmor hot ,gas in teontact with the..niater|al till dried. T a

a. The proeess of rettuig and ungummiug the material in ap-iroximately straight condition ma eham er.andagub eetmg it to Hit) llt)

l tiher material. whieh .ronaista in disposing;

llltl the action of hot water and fatty acid. solvents circulated in contact therewith, thereby releusing the oily, gummy and resinous matter, floating such matter oil with the liquor into an expansion tank and therein causing separation and recovery of such matter, reheating the solvent liquor and repeatedly circulating it through or in contact with the fiber material 7, and causing separation of the oily matter and deposit 10 of the gummy and resinous mutter till the BURDETT LOOMIS. Witnesses T. C. WILLIS, E. B. CLARK. 

